Adjustable lighting fixture supports



y 9, 1956 WOLAR ADJUSTABLE LIGHTING FIXTURE SUPPORTS Filed Oct. 3 1951 INVENTOR 13/00: W014? 4? 2% M ATTORNEY ADJUSTABLE LIGHTING FIXTURE SUPPORTS Isidore Wolar, Mount Vernon, N. Y.

Application October 3, 1951, Serial No. 249,598

2 Claims. (Cl. 240--67) The present invention relates to adjustable lighting fixture supports.

In the mounting of suspended lighting fixtures, it is often desirable to have available means for mounting the fixtures at variable mounting heights. The suspending devices are necessarily of varying length, either to accommodate irregular ceiling heights or to take care' of lighting fixtures of different styles and constructions. The present invention relates to adjustable fixture supports which accommodate the wiring and employ two telescoping tubular members, one adapted to be connected to the fixture body and the other to the relatively fixed elements. In the case of a suspended fixture, such element is at the ceiling; and in the case of a portable lamp, it is the lamp base. 7

According to the present invention, one of the tubes is provided with a longitudinally extending slot from which extend spaced lateral slots communicating with relatively short longitudinal slots and the other tube is provided with one or more radially projecting lugs movable in the slots of the other tube and adapted to be placed in a selected longitudinal slot extension to lock the tubes against telescoping movement and prevent angular movement. Constructions such as referred to make it possible to vary the over-all length of the fixture support from approximately twice the tube length to approximately the tube length. Where closer spacing is desired, it is readily possible to cut ofi the excess length of tube and obtain still closer coupling.

Other and further objects will appear as the description proceeds.

The accompanying drawings show, for purposes of illustrating the present invention, several embodiments in which the invention may take form, it being understood that the drawings are illustrative of the invention rather than limiting the same.

In the accompanying drawings:

Figure l is a diagrammatic view illustrating a pendent lighting fixture;

Figure 2 is a vertical sectional view through the adjustable lighting fixture support arranged for a pendent fixture showing parts in elevation;

Figure 3 is a cross-sectional view on the line 3-3 of Figure 2;

Figure 4 is a fragmentary vertical sectional view on the line 4-4 of Figure 3;

Figure 5 is an exploded view showing the two telescoping parts of Figures 2, 3 and 4 separated;

Figure 6 is a view similar to Figure 5 illustrating the modification of the telescoping parts;

Figure 7 is a cross-sectional view similar to Figure 3 illustrating a further modification;

Figure 8 is a view similar to Figure 1 illustrating the support employed in a portable lamp of adjustable height; and

Figure 9 is a vertical sectional view of the structure of Figure 8 at an enlarged scale.

Figure 1 illustrates the suspension of a chandelier type of lighting fixture wherein the fixture body is indicated at 10, the lamp socket or other outlet at 11, the outlet box at 12, and the extensible supporting device is indicated generally at S.

Figure 8 illustrates the same supporting device S employed to support the reflector 13 and lamp socket 14.01: a portable lamp from a relatively fixed element such as a lamp base 15.

The outlet box 12 is usually provided with some form of fitting 20, such as a coupling, hickey, or like device. Such a fitting is internally threaded as indicated at 21 to accommodate a threaded tube 22 through which the Wires W pass to the socket or fixture body.

In the form of construction illustrated in Figures 2 to 5, inclusive, the tube 22 is of length corresponding substantially with the closest mounting height of the fixture. This tube, as shown more clearly in Figure 5, is slotted at the lower end as indicated at 23, and lugs 24, 24' are struck out of the material of the tube. While only one lug may sufiice, it is preferable to use two lugs.

The lamp socket 11 is secured to an upwardly extending tube 25, slightly larger than the tube 22 and adapted to "telescope along this innertube. Tube 25 is provided with a vertically extending slot 26, which opens at the bottom of the tube and is closed at the upper end of the tube. This slot is in communication at regular intervals with lateral slots 27, which lead into short longitudinally extending slots 27' shown in these figures as extending both up and down from the slots 27. The lateral slots. 27 are spaced the same distance as the lugs 24, 24' so that when one of these lugs is opposite a slot the other one will be opposite another slot, so that both lugs can pass through the slots 27 and enter the slots 27 A wiring protecting liner 28, which preferably is an insulating tube of fiber, heavy paper or plastic, or may be a metal tube or a wire coil, is carried in the slotted tube 25. Its lower end 28 is secured to the bottom of the tube 25 by a portion of larger diameter and its upper end 28" extends into the tube 22 at the greatest extension of the hanger.

The telescoping elements are assembled and the socket attached before the upper tube is secured to the ceiling support. The wiring can pass from the socket up through the concentric liner and tubes without difiiculty, and the electrician can readily adjust the fixture height by moving the lower tube relative to the upper tube and passing the lugs 24, 24' into the T-shaped slots 27, 27'. When the structure is used for a suspension type fixture as is used in Figures 2 and 3, the load of the fixture keeps the lugs at the upper ends of the T-shaped slots.

An attempt to raise the fixture will bring the lugs into the lower portions of the slots so that, unless the fixture is raised exactly the right amount, it is unlikely that it can be turned so as to shift the lugs into the long slot 26. In order to cover and conceal the slots 26, 27, 27', the body of the fixture carries a thin walled tube 29 long enough to extend up to the top tube 25.

In use, the fixture support and fixture are secured together and sutficient length of wiring for the desired mounting passed up through the telescoped tubes. The upper tube is secured to the outlet box fitting after which the splicing can be completed. A sufiicient amount of extra wire is preferably supplied so that the fixture can, if desired, be lowered to the greatest extent possible. The fixture, however, will not drop away from the ceiling support because the upper end of the slot 26 is closed, as shown in Figure 2. Should the tubes be too long, they can readily be cut olf and only the needed part of the tubes employed. The liner keeps the wiring from contacting the slotted tube.

In the form shown in Figure 6, the outer tube 30 has a longitudinal slot 31 closed at the bottom and in communication with L-shaped slots 32 which, if desired, may be spaced more closely than the T-shaped slots of Figure 2. The tube 30 may be used with inner tube 22; if desired. It is here shown as being 'used' with an inner tube 33 adapted to carry a lug member 34 which can be fastened in place after the tubes have been telescoped. Such a lug may be secured in a hole 35, if desired. The tube 33 may, of course, be used with the tube 25.

In the arrangement shown in Figure 7, the inner tube 40 is provided with slots 41 of either type above'described, and the outer tube 42 is provided with inwardlyextending lugs 43 of any suitable form. A similar liner 28a is employed. Such adevicewill operate in' the same general manner as above described; in which case a covering tube, if used, will be opposite the exposed or exposable portion of the'inner slotted tube 40;

In the arrangement shown in- Figures 8 and 9, the parts shown in Figures 1 and 3 are reversed. Here the smaller diameter tube 22 is at the bottom and the larger diameter tube 25 and liner 28 are at the top, and the lugs 24, 24' are in engagement with the other ends of the T-shaped slots 27, 27. The ornamental tube 30 is carried from the upper end of the reflector support so as to cover the slotted tube.

Since it is obvious that the invention may be embodied in other forms and constructions within the scope of the claims, I wish it to be understood that the particular forms shown are but several of these forms, and various modifications and changes being possible, I do not otherwise limit myself in any way with respect thereto.

What is claimed is:

1. A device for supporting the body of a lighting fixture in adjustable fixed relation with respect to a relatively fixed element and for enclosing wiring extending from the said relatively fixed element to the fixture body, comprising two thin walled telescoping tubes, one outside the other and having their exposed ends threaded for connection to the fixture body and the relatively fixed element, one tube having a slot extending longitudinally from the threaded end and spaced lateral slots communicating with the longitudinal slot and having longitudinal extensions, the other tube having two radially projecting lugs bent out of the side wall of the tube and movable in the slots and adapted to be placed in two adjacent selected longitudinal slot extensions to lock the tubes against telescoping movement and prevent angular movement, whereby, when the tubes are in extended relation, the said other tube has its free end displaced from the threaded end of the first tube, and a wiring protecting liner secured to the end of the outer tube and extending into the inner tube and inside the slotted tube for substantially the slotted length thereof to prevent contact of the wiring with the slotted portion of said slotted tube.

2. A device as claimed in claim 1, wherein the fixed element is above the fixture body and having a finishing tube outside the slotted tube and of a length to conceal the slots therein.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 627,516 Morgan June 27, 1899 1,530,267 Israel Mar. 17, 1925 1,693,925 Holt Dec. 4, 1928 1,951,754 Gilbert Mar. 20, 1934 2,072,791 Baer Mar. 2, 1937 2,115,898 Zagora May 3, 1938 

